Legislative process

This page highlights some of the current parliamentary material available on the legislative process. This includes select committee reports, briefing papers on current legislation and other subjects produced by the parliamentary research services, and the latest Early Day Motions put down by MPs.

Standard Notes

DateDescription
11.02.2013PIL: Free Votes
Free votes in the House of Commons
11.02.2013PIL: Number of House of Commons Divisions
This PIL lists the number of Commons divisions since 1945-46.
18.12.2012House of Commons Background Paper: Statutory Instruments
This House of Commons Background Paper discusses statutory instruments and outlines how they are considered by the House of Commons and the House of Lords.
18.12.2012House of Commons Background Paper: Private Bills
This House of Commons Background Paper sets out how private bills are passed through the House of Commons and the House of Lords.
18.12.2012House of Commons Background Paper: Public Bills
This House of Commons Background Paper sets out how legislation is passed through the House of Commons and the House of Lords and explains the terms involved.

Research Papers

DateDescription
03.10.2012Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Bill: Committee Stage Report
This is a report on the Public Bill Committee Stage of the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Bill. It is designed to complement the Research Paper Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Bill (RP 12/33), which covers in more detail the background to the Bill
07.06.2012Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Bill
The Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Bill introduces reforms in a number of areas.
11.02.2011Wash-up 2010
The wash-up period at the end of a Parliament allows a Government to get onto the statute book essential or non-controversial legislation that would not otherwise complete its passage through Parliament because of Dissolution. This paper describes the wash-up process; reviews the proceedings on wash-up in 2010; and provides details of Bills that received Royal Assent in each of the last six wash-up periods.
31.03.2003Parliamentary Questions Debate Contributions and Participation in Commons Divisions
Parliamentary questions; Debate contributions and participation in Commons divisions: statistics for session 2001/02. House of Commons Research Paper 03/32.
14.03.2001Regulatory Reform Bill (HL):order-making power and parliamentary aspects (Bill 51 of 2000-01)
Regulatory Reform Bill (HL):order-making power and parliamentary aspects. (Bill 51 of 2000/01). House of Commons Library Research Paper 01/27.

Select Committee Reports

DateDescription
24.10.2011Orders laid under clauses 7(2) and 9 of the Localism Bill.
Procedure Select Committee (HL) report [Lords]
02.02.2011Constitution Select Committee (HL) tenth report on Money Bills and Commons Financial Privilege.
Constitution Select Committee (HL) report [Lords]
27.07.2010Law Commission Bills.
Procedure Select Committee (HL) report [Lords]
24.02.2010Explanatory statements on amendments to bills.
Procedure Select Committee report [Commons]
09.12.2009Scrutinising statutory instruments: departmental returns, 2008.
Government response. Leader of the House of Commons; Statutory Instruments Joint Select Committee report [Commons and Lords]

Early Day Motions

DateDescription
24.11.2011POLICE (S.I., 2011, No. 2744)
That an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty, praying that thePolicing Protocol Order 2011 (S.I., 2011, No. 2744), dated 15 November 2011, a copy of which was laid before this ...
21.03.2011LIBEL REFORM
That this House welcomes the publication of the draft Defamation Bill as an essential step towards the necessary and urgent reform of the UK's outdated and unbalanced libel laws; notes ...
16.11.2010DRAFT STATUTORY INSTRUMENTS ON NUCLEAR JUSTIFICATION
That this House notes the recommendations of the Tenth Report of the House of Lords Merits of Statutory Instruments Committee, published on 5 November, in respect of the draft Justification ...
16.11.2010SLOVAK LANGUAGE ACT
That this House notes the findings of the European Commission for Democracy through Law, also known as the Venice Commission, regarding the Slovak Republic 2009 State Language Act, ...
15.11.2010PROTECTION OF LOCAL SERVICES (PLANNING) BILL
That this House welcomes the introduction by the hon. Member for Selby and Ainsty of the Protection of Local Services (Planning) Bill, via the Private Members' Ballot, with cross-party ...

Lords Library Notes

DateDescription
10.04.2012Delegated Legislation in the House of Lords since 2000
This Library Note provides information on the powers, conventions and practice of the House of Lords in dealing with delegated legislation.
19.09.2011Volume of Legislation
This House of Lords Library Note looks at the volume of Acts of Parliament since 1930 from the perspective of the House of Lords, as well as at the volume of Statutory Instruments since 1961.
11.02.2011Wash-up 2010
This Library Note describes the wash-up process; reviews the proceedings on wash-up in 2010; and provides details of bills that received Royal Assent in each of the last six wash-up periods.
25.01.2000Divisions on delegated legislation in the House of Lords 1950-1999 LLN 2000/001
This Library Note charts developments in votes on delegated legislation in the House of Lords between 1950 and 1999.

Glossary

  • Research Papers (RP) - briefings produced by the House of Commons Library on Bills, topical issues and regular statistics
  • Standard Notes (SN) - shorter, topical briefings from the Commons Library
  • Early Day Motions (EDMs) - formal motions submitted by MPs in the House of Commons
  • POST Notes - short briefing notes produced by the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology
  • Lords Library Notes (LLN) - an occasional series of papers compiled by the House of Lords Library